The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf

Chapter 76

A strange but warm sense overcomes me. I look to the darkness ahead, noticing crimson eyes staring

right at me like a flickering flame. My body wants to be closer, and my mind feels like it’s going a

hundred miles per hour. My wand glows brightly enough to see two hands grasping the bars as I

approach, his eyes still fixed on me.

Strangely, I hear numerous whispers in my mind at once. ‘This way, come closer. It’s okay, so

beautiful,’ the voices say.

Without realising it, my hand stretches out to touch his. He grips my wrist as our fingers connect, and I

feel a slight burn on my wrist. Yiselda grabs my arm and pulls me back.

‘Be careful, dear, that is the Vampire King, Alec,’ she warns. Then, raising her wand, his cell lights up. I

glimpse his black hair and light brown eyes before he flourishes his cloak over his face and retreats.

Texamine my wrist and notice a peculiar little mark. A strange sensation runs through my body. I shake

it off and turn to face Alec.

He lowers his cloak slightly enough to peer at me. He is very handsome. He looks at Yiselda.

Could you at least dim that darn light, Yiselda?’ he sneers.

‘Dimulous,’ she says, and her wand dims low.

Alec lowers his cloak and floats forward. ‘You’re so beautiful. How I would love to taste your blood,’ he

says with a smile revealing his fangs.

‘Well, lucky for me, King Alec, you’re imprisoned behind these bars. I also don’t plan to be on your

menu. Sorry, you won’t get to take a bite,’ I grin.

He gives me a curious look for a few moments.

I don’t intend to stay in here indefinitely, Luna, his demeanour softening.

‘How did you figure out my name?’ I ask, stroking the blemish on my wrist. It has a peculiar warmth

about it.

I am Alec! Vampire King, I can figure out a lot by being in your presence, and I may have overheard

one of the other witches call you that,’ he admits.

I try not to laugh at his honesty. He smiles sweetly at me and looks over my shoulder.

“Yiselda, we have a new guest. How about you let me out so I can give Luna here a proper warm

welcome,’ he says sincerely.

Yiselda laughs, ‘Yeah, right, I’m going to let you out so you can flee and wreak havoc across the world

until everyone bows to you and declares you ruler of the world,’ she scoffs.

‘Why not? It sounds like lots of fun to me,’ he says.

‘Except it’s not pleasant for everyone who dies as a result,’ she says.

‘Those nasty humans deserve to die for what they did to me all those years ago, King Alec says, his

face full of rage. ‘My Juniper, my darling, sweet Juniper, he murmurs as he withdraws into the shadows.

As I hear him sob, I frown and feel sorry for him. I have no idea who Juniper is or what happened to

her, but I can sense what he’s going through. My heart hurts and feels as if it were a shattered glass

that can’t be repaired. My inner self seems gloomy and empty all of a sudden. I place my hand on my

chest.

“Luna, are you alright?’ Yiselda asks. I nod my head.

I’m fine, just a little overwhelmed with Pandora’s Box and its contents,’I joke,

“Well, now that the formalities are over and done with and the tour is complete, we shall return

downstairs,’ Yiselda says, turning away. I go to follow her.

Wait! Reaching out between the bars, King Alec touches my arm with his fingers. He can’t grasp me

because I’m too far away. From where his fingers brushed against me, I feel a warm sense of sparks. I

examine my arm, and it feels as if Magnus himself has touched me. When I look up, I notice King

Alec’s warm smile.

“Until we meet again, just don’t make me wait too long, my Queen, he whispers, so only I hear.

I take a few steps backwards with a worried expression on my face. Fern grabs my hand and drags me

behind her as she skips toward the exit. I keep returning my eyes to King Alec, and his focus does not Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

leave me until we reach the opposite end of the dungeon and depart.

Yiselda closes the door with the ward spell. As we travel down the stairwell of books, we return to the

kitchen by entering the little corridor and walking through the other door, which happens to be the large

mirror.

Yiselda, using her magic, pours us another cup of tea as they converse and laugh. But I’m not sure

what it’s about since I can’t stop thinking about King Alec. I shake my head and think about Magnus

instead. I want to be in his arms, and I need to get rid of these strange feelings.

‘It’s been wonderful seeing you, Yiselda, but it’s time for us to return to Shadow Crest. Will you be

accompanying us when the wolf council returns tomorrow?’ | ask.

‘It’s probably better if I’m there, just in case.’ She answers.

I follow Fern, Ria, Ela and Lilac past the chicken, cats, frogs, floating objects and the broom sweeping

the entrance again and out the door. There is a permanently drawn circle with a star and stones inside.

We all step in one by one. I think of home and Magnus as I step in. When I open my eyes, we appear

near the bonfire. Reaper caws from his moon tree as I run inside the packhouse, up the stairs and into

the office, where I wrap my arms around Magnus and kiss him.

‘Welcome back,’ he says, ‘How was it?’

‘You should have seen the place. It was more than I imagined it to be. There were strangely shaped

hallways, a broom sweeping by itself. They even had a unicorn in the enchanted garden!’

‘A unicorn?’

“Yep, her name is Star,’ I smile.

‘So, what about those Grim things and nightmarish creatures Yiselda mentioned?’

I take my wrist in my hands and begin caressing the mark on it.

‘The Grimghouls were terrifying small creatures with razor-sharp teeth. On the other hand, the Shadow

Reapers were difficult to spot since they resembled shadows, shaped like people. They can fuse with

your body, causing you to have hallucinations and harm others,

‘They sound awful?’ Magnus says.

‘They were, then there was Alec, the Vampire King.’I say, pulling my wrist into my chest.

Magnus takes my hand, extends my arm, and peers at my wrists.

“How long have you had this tattoo? It looks like an Ankh? ‘A sword with a circle around the grip, like a

symbol?’ he asks.

i exarnine my wrist once more, the redness and discomfort have subsided, and I can now see what

Magnus sees. It resembles an Ankh in appearance.

I’m not sure. Alec grabbed me and

“He did what?’ Magnus growls, abruptly standing up. ‘He did this to you?’

1-1 don’t know. It happened so quickly. When he grabbed me, I felt a slight burn on my wrist. Then I felt

strange and left as soon as I could

“I’ll take you to the pack doctor,’

‘Magnus, it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore, and I feel fine now that I’m here with you,’I assure him.

He relaxes a little,

‘Fine, but if you feel strange again or any pain, you let me know, okay?’ he says,

Inod, and he places a kiss on my forehead.

‘Good girl,’ he smiles.